textproduct: Rapid City

KEY MESSAGES

-Strong cold front will move through the region tonight, with gusty winds, much colder temperatures, and some light snow

-After a cold Sunday, temperatures will warm back up to seasonal norms and higher for the remainder of the week most areas

DISCUSSION

(This Evening Through Saturday) Issued at 1226 PM MST Sat Dec 27 2025

Western CONUS ridge to return in the period as deep toughing re- develops over the NE Pac. The region will remain on the edge of the ridge will mild tendencies most days. There will be a frontal boundary wavering over the region with temps expected to fluctuate with passing impulses in NW flow. Currently, a splitting longwave trough is moving east across the Rockies, with a strong cold front ahead of the strong northern stream trough. The front will begin advancing across the region this afternoon, with strong gusty northwest winds developing. Prev adv was on track to handle hazards, but did add a few extra zones over SW SD and adjusted times for the faster front arrival. A few gust to around 60 mph will be possible on the plains east of the BH with the front this evening, and perhaps Sunday morning with the squeeze around the Hills. Some light snow (generally around a half inch) will possible across NE WY, NW SD, and scentral SD. Otherwise, not much precip expected with this system. Cold Sunday with many places not making it out of the teens. A few places in NW SD will see wind chills of 20 to 35 below as well in the morning. WAA will begin to ensue Sunday night with western areas warming through the night. The exception will be the SD Plains where many locations will see lows below zero. Warming through Tuesday with highs expected to reach the lower 50s once gain on parts of the SD Plains. A clipper system looks to skirt the region on Wed, with maybe some light snow across NW SD. Another cool front will settle into the region with this system, knocking temps back down. Otherwise, expect similar temp fluctuations the rest of the period as the baroclinic zone fluctuates over the region.

AVIATION

(For the 06Z TAFS Through 06Z Sunday Night) Issued At 1019 PM MST Sat Dec 27 2025

Gusty northwest winds will continue through the overnight hours, strongest across the South Dakota plains (gusts to 40-50 knots). Snow has developed across western SD and will slowly push eastward. MVFR/IFR conditions with transient LIFR conditions are possible in heavier snow, especially given strong winds. VFR conditions will prevail after 28/12z.

UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

SD...Wind Advisory until 5 PM MST /6 PM CST/ Sunday for SDZ001-002- 012>014-025-026-030>032-041>044-046-047-049-072-073-077-078. WY...None.